The cobblestones of Portland

SE 3rd and Broadway, Portland

In the 1800s grain ships would load at Portland and sail for the industrial cities of Europe. On the return trip the ships would fill their holds with cobblestones for balast. These stones were used to pave the streets of Portland. Most of those cobblestone streets have been paved over with "modern" tarmac, but in a few spots you can still find the cobbles. In the early 60s we'd read about racing on cobblestones in Belgium and then go ride the cobblestones of Southeast Portland or maybe lower NW, what's now called Old Town. This shot was taken while I was on a shopping trip to Corno and Son grocers.